phrase ?

[anneasquith]

"put your mind at rest " can anyone explain this saying ? TIA

[mike11111]

Not the most obscure of phrases in the English language. Fairly self-explanatory, I would have thought.

[Buenchico]

I'll try to explain how I understand the phrase through an example:

Scenario:
Mavis is due to fly out on her holidays but there's a serial killer on the loose in the resort she's going to, she's found out that the hotel hasn't even been built yet and the airline staff are threatening strike action.

Mavis's mind will be 'working overtime', considering all of the things which might go wrong. She can't relax, and she can't sleep, through worry, because her mind is constantly active.

Then her boyfriend, Fred, arrives with good news: "I've spoken to the travel company and they've confirmed that you've been transferred to the Presidential Suite in the best hotel in the resort. I've also heard on the news that the killer has been caught and the airline staff have settled their dispute. So you can now put your mind at rest".

Surely that makes sense? Mavis's mind was 'going at nineteen to the dozen' and she couldn't relax. Now she can give her mind a well-deserved rest and finally relax..

Chris

[society]

Did the doctor 'put your mind at rest' Anne?

[Buenchico]

Don't worry, Pixi-.

You still look 'well clever'. After all, you said the same thing in one line which it took me several paragraphs to explain!

[mike11111]

Didn't mean to spoil it for you Pixi. Mind you, I wish I had Buenchico's laconic turn of phrase so that I might have put it more succinctly.